A-Day, triathlon set for same day

Published: Thursday, February 1, 2007 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 1, 2007 at 2:07 a.m.

University of Alabama football players will have to share this year’s A-Day with a some other athletes.

The day UA officials chose for the A-Day game -- April 21 -- has long been reserved by city officials for a collegiate triathlon, an event expected to bring thousands of people to Tuscaloosa. The event, which involves swimming, running and bicycling, is expected to meander through closed roads in the city and on campus, ending on the UA Quad. The last triathlete should finish about noon, only an hour before the A-Day game begins.

“This has thrown in a twist because we’ll have to balance the triathlon and A-Day," said Mayor Walt Maddox. “Our attention will not be diverted from the triathlon. This is a big deal for the city, and we want to generate excitement."

University officials announced the day for the game Tuesday without first notifying city officials.

“Generally, the university does a good job of working with us, and I’m sure in the excitement of the new coach and all the planning going on, this was inadvertently overlooked," Maddox said.

Mal Moore, UA athletics director, said he was unaware of the triathlon, but said April 21 had been deemed the best for the team and academic calendar. Pushing the game past April 21 meant extending spring practice into final exam preparation.

“We had to move it back," he said. “I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do here."

Moore said the triathlon athletes and spectators on campus were welcome to attend the game.

“The more the merrier," he said.

USA Triathlon, the sports' sanctioning body, selected Tuscaloosa nearly a year ago to host the Collegiate National Championship the weekend of April 21. About 800 athletes from 38 university club teams nationwide, along with coaches, friends and family, were signed on for the event as of Tuesday.

Landing the event was a coup for the city, and many hoped the two-year deal with USAT would lead to more Olympic-style events. But some fear the logistical wrinkle created by the timing of A-Day could hinder the triathlon’s success.

The Tuscaloosa Convention and Visitors Bureau paid $10,000 to secure the race, a number dwarfed by the $4 million to $5 million it is expected to generate for the city.

Robert Ratliff, director of the Tuscaloosa Convention and Visitors Bureau, said his office was caught off guard by the news of A-Day. He declined further comment.

At the time the date of the triathlon was set, UA’s annual football intra-squad game was planned for a Saturday in late March. Since then, new football coach Nick Saban wanted to push A-Day back so his staff could get a better grip on their jobs and the team’s capabilities.

The largest crowd for an A-day was probably a year ago, when an estimated 40,000 fans came. With Saban’s hire earlier this month, many expect Crimson Tide fans to top that mark, meaning more cars, RVs and tailgaters will be using streets that will be closed or partially closed that morning.

Portions of University Boulevard, campus streets including Campus Drive and two lanes of Jack Warner Parkway will be closed during the race.

“There will be some problems, and that’s what we need to be looking at," said Brian Darr, president of the Tuscaloosa Track Club, whose members will help with the triathlon.

Darr hopes the game will be bumped back an hour or two so heavy traffic will not affect the race.

Charlie Crawford, commissioner of officials for USAT, lives in Alabama and helped lure the triathlon to Tuscaloosa. He said the group chose Tuscaloosa because of weather, good course route, the clean river and parks near the river. He did not know A-Day had been moved to April 21, and officials with USAT could not be reached for comment.

Looking on the bright side, Darr said the A-Day crowd could mean publicity for the triathlon, along with more spectators.

“We might have 5,000 to 10,000 people there to see us finish instead of the 1,000 or so normally there," he said. “If it all goes well, it may be good for our sport."

<p>University of Alabama football players will have to share this year’s A-Day with a some other athletes.</p><p>The day UA officials chose for the A-Day game -- April 21 -- has long been reserved by city officials for a collegiate triathlon, an event expected to bring thousands of people to Tuscaloosa. The event, which involves swimming, running and bicycling, is expected to meander through closed roads in the city and on campus, ending on the UA Quad. The last triathlete should finish about noon, only an hour before the A-Day game begins.</p><p>This has thrown in a twist because we’ll have to balance the triathlon and A-Day," said Mayor Walt Maddox. Our attention will not be diverted from the triathlon. This is a big deal for the city, and we want to generate excitement."</p><p>University officials announced the day for the game Tuesday without first notifying city officials.</p><p>Generally, the university does a good job of working with us, and I’m sure in the excitement of the new coach and all the planning going on, this was inadvertently overlooked," Maddox said.</p><p>Mal Moore, UA athletics director, said he was unaware of the triathlon, but said April 21 had been deemed the best for the team and academic calendar. Pushing the game past April 21 meant extending spring practice into final exam preparation.</p><p>We had to move it back," he said. I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do here."</p><p>Moore said the triathlon athletes and spectators on campus were welcome to attend the game.</p><p>The more the merrier," he said.</p><p>USA Triathlon, the sports' sanctioning body, selected Tuscaloosa nearly a year ago to host the Collegiate National Championship the weekend of April 21. About 800 athletes from 38 university club teams nationwide, along with coaches, friends and family, were signed on for the event as of Tuesday.</p><p>Landing the event was a coup for the city, and many hoped the two-year deal with USAT would lead to more Olympic-style events. But some fear the logistical wrinkle created by the timing of A-Day could hinder the triathlon’s success.</p><p>The Tuscaloosa Convention and Visitors Bureau paid $10,000 to secure the race, a number dwarfed by the $4 million to $5 million it is expected to generate for the city.</p><p>Robert Ratliff, director of the Tuscaloosa Convention and Visitors Bureau, said his office was caught off guard by the news of A-Day. He declined further comment.</p><p>At the time the date of the triathlon was set, UA’s annual football intra-squad game was planned for a Saturday in late March. Since then, new football coach Nick Saban wanted to push A-Day back so his staff could get a better grip on their jobs and the team’s capabilities.</p><p>The largest crowd for an A-day was probably a year ago, when an estimated 40,000 fans came. With Saban’s hire earlier this month, many expect Crimson Tide fans to top that mark, meaning more cars, RVs and tailgaters will be using streets that will be closed or partially closed that morning.</p><p>Portions of University Boulevard, campus streets including Campus Drive and two lanes of Jack Warner Parkway will be closed during the race.</p><p>There will be some problems, and that’s what we need to be looking at," said Brian Darr, president of the Tuscaloosa Track Club, whose members will help with the triathlon.</p><p>Darr hopes the game will be bumped back an hour or two so heavy traffic will not affect the race.</p><p>Charlie Crawford, commissioner of officials for USAT, lives in Alabama and helped lure the triathlon to Tuscaloosa. He said the group chose Tuscaloosa because of weather, good course route, the clean river and parks near the river. He did not know A-Day had been moved to April 21, and officials with USAT could not be reached for comment.</p><p>Looking on the bright side, Darr said the A-Day crowd could mean publicity for the triathlon, along with more spectators.</p><p>We might have 5,000 to 10,000 people there to see us finish instead of the 1,000 or so normally there," he said. If it all goes well, it may be good for our sport."</p><p>Reach Adam Jones at adam.jones@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0230.</p>